Is Rise of the Resistance Scary?: What to Know Before You Ride

Picture this: you’re standing in front of the iconic Millennium Falcon, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of a galaxy far, far away.

The only thing missing is a heart-pumping adventure with your favorite Star Wars characters.

Enter Rise of the Resistance, the newest addition to Disney’s theme park attractions at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World and at Disneyland.

In this blog post, I’ll dive into the details of this ride, from how it works to whether it’s worth braving the lines.

And of course, the question you’re probably wondering the most: Is Rise of the Resistance scary?

Is Rise of the Resistance scary?

While there are definitely intense moments, like dodging blaster fire from Stormtroopers or riding a moving platform through a First Order Star Destroyer, this ride is not designed to be a horror attraction.

The aim is to give you a thrilling Star Wars experience, not to scare you out of your wits.

One of the most heart-pumping experiences in the ride is a short and quick drop toward the end – but don’t worry, it’s not nearly as scary as the drops on Tower of Terror or loops and twists on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

The drop is a controlled motion simulator that simulates the feeling of a shuttle entering warp speed. It’s definitely thrilling, but not too intense for most riders.

I didn’t know about the drop before I went on it for the first time. While I was caught off guard and certainly surprised, it didn’t create the stomach drop feeling that you usually get on roller coasters or other big thrill rides.

If you have addition questions about this ride, keep reading for my complete rider’s guide to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Can you ride Rise of the Resistance pregnant?

Unfortunately Disney advises that you should not ride Rise of the Resistance if you’re pregnant.

My guess is this is likely due to the drop in the ride, which causes a jolt that could push you into the lap bar.

Additional health and safety restrictions

Guests with wheelchairs or EVs must be able to transfer into the vehicle by themselves, as cast members cannot help with this for liability reasons.

Lastly, guests must be at least 40″ tall to ride and guests under the age of 7 must ride with someone that is 14 years old or older.

Accessibility accommodations

Audio descriptions of visual features and handheld captioning are both available for this ride.

However, you must go to Guest Relations at either park to get a receiver for the captioning or audio descriptions.

They do not have devices at each ride, so you’ll have to get one and carry it with you throughout the day.

In addition, if you are in a wheelchair or EV, you will need to be able to transfer into the ride vehicle on your own or with the assistance of your party.

Cast members are not allowed to assist with this – but will relocate any mobility aids to the exit of the ride.

Is rider switch available?

Yes, rider switch is available for Rise of the Resistance.

So if you have kids that don’t want to ride, decide they are too scared, or don’t meet the health and safety requirements, this is your best option for accessing this ride without someone missing out.

This will allow an adult to wait with the child while the other rides – and then you can switch without having to get back in line.

How long is Rise of the Resistance?

The ride and pre-shows together are approximately 18 minutes long, making it one of the longest rides at Disney.

It’s broken down into different sections, with walk-throughs, pre-shows, and the main ride itself.

If you’re a Star Wars fan, this time will fly by as you’re transported to a galaxy far, far away.

That is, of course, unless it breaks down. And unfortunately, this ride is prone to breaking down frequently.

The first time I went on Rise of the Resistance, I lucked out with a relatively short wait time since it was the end of the night.

I hopped in line, super stoked that I wouldn’t have to miss out on riding it again, as during my last visit, it hadn’t opened yet and then you-know-what shut down the parks.

I’m diabetic and need to eat every few hours or so to help keep my blood sugar level, so I avoid getting on rides if the wait is too long.

After waiting about 30 minutes in line, my group was let on, only for the ride to break down after the first pre-show area. We ended up stuck for over an hour and a half!

The cast members offered free Lightning Lanes that were good for a week or so, but I was only in town for a short visit – and this was my only day at Hollywood Studios.

Thankfully I had a protein bar and juice with me, so I powered through with my snacks and eventually we made it on.

How does Rise of the Resistance work?

Rise of the Resistance is a multimedia experience that lets you join the Resistance in their fight against the First Order.

You are grouped with fellow riders and directed through an immersive experience that includes multiple rooms, animatronics, and virtual reality scenes.

The first few parts are walk-through, but at the end, you board a trackless ride vehicle for an adventurous escape from the First Order.

It truly feels like you’re inside a Star Wars movie!

But don’t worry, you won’t be left to fight Darth Vader or Kylo Ren on your own – familiar faces from the movies will be your guides, including Finn, BB-8, and Rey.

In regard to accessing the ride, when it first opened, you could only access it via virtual queue at both locations.

However, both parks dropped the virtual queue in late 2021 in favor of a traditional standby line and paid Lightning Lane set up.

Can I use Genie+ or lightning lane?

Speaking of long waits…

Rise of the Resistance is not available as part of Genie+. However, you can purchase an individual lightning lane, whether you’re at Disneyland or Hollywood Studios.

If you don’t want to wait in line too much, purchasing a Lightning Lane for this ride is worth the cost in my opinion!

The price varies based on demand and season, but usually hovers around $20, give or take.

For reference, when I first wrote this post on May 28, 2023, it was $22 since it was a holiday weekend.

Is there a single rider line?

No, there isn’t a single rider line for Rise of the Resistance. So if you’re hitting up the park solo, be prepared to entertain yourself in the long line or pony up for an individual lightning lane.

Best time to ride Rise of the Resistance

As I’ve mentioned a few times in this post, the line for this ride can get super duper long.

The easiest way to avoid the long line is to purchase a Lightning Lane pass.

But, there are a few ways you can minimize your wait time without having to pony up your hard-earned cash.

The first way is to head straight there right at park opening, aka rope drop.

If you’re a Disney resort guest at Disney World, you get early entry to the parks.

Early entry is usually a half hour before official opening time. However, at Hollywood Studios, they often let resort guests in up to 1 hour before – it’s just not advertised nor official.

Alternatively, if you get in line right before the park closes, the wait times are usually inflated to deter folks from entering. So even if it says it’s going to be an hour, it’s possibly a walk-on or at the very least, a short wait.

Lastly, if you’re a Disney resort guest at a deluxe level resort at Disney World, you get extra evening hours on select nights at Hollywood Studios.

Check the wait time around the regular closing time to see if it has gone down. If it hasn’t, give it at least 30 minutes before checking again. You’ll definitely see it go down since the park will have far less guests.

Where to find Rise of the Resistance

So you’ve decided this ride isn’t too scary and sounds like something you want to ride – but where is it?

Rise of the Resistance is available at two Disney parks in the US: Hollywood Studios at Disney World and Disneyland.

The ride is exactly the same at both parks, so there isn’t an advantage to one or the other, which is great if you’re trying to decide which park to visit (one less thing to weigh!).

Hollywood Studios

In Hollywood Studios, the ride is located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the back left corner from the park’s main entrance.

You can get there by walking through Grand Avenue to the tunnel that leads into Galaxy’s Edge or by walking through Toy Story Land’s main entrance to its back entrance that also leads into this area.

Disneyland

At Disneyland, the ride is located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which is located in the back left corner of the park from the main entrance.

You can access Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland by walking through Critter Country to the left side entrance or Frontierland to the right side entrance. The ride itself is closest to the left side entrance.

Is Rise of the Resistance worth it?

In conclusion, this ride is an incredible experience that is definitely worth the hype, whether you love Star Wars or are just along for the ride.

This ride really makes you feel like you’re part of a Star Wars movie and it’s an incredible way to get even more immersed in the Star Wars universe.

While there are elements of thrills and excitement, coupled with dark sections, it’s not too scary for most riders.

So if you’re a Star Wars fan planning a trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Disneyland, be sure to add Rise of the Resistance to your must-ride list.

It’s an unforgettable experience you won’t want to miss!

This post was originally published May 28, 2023. It was last updated November 6, 2023.